The relationship between health literacy of Japanese people, their attitudes toward acupuncture, and their behavior in choosing this therapy is currently unclear. Therefore, for this study, we ...conducted a web-based survey to address this unknown relationship. A questionnaire comprising four categories (health status, health literacy, previous acupuncture experience, and attitudes toward acupuncture) was administered to 1,600 Japanese participants. For this study, we performed cross-tabulation and path analysis to examine the relationship between each questionnaire item. The mean score of participants' health literacy was 3.41 (SD = 0.74), and older, educated, female participants tended to have higher health literacy. The respondents perceived acupuncture to be effective for chronic low back pain, tension-type headache, and knee pain due to osteoarthritis (40.0%, 38.7%, and 21.8%, respectively). Contrastingly, acupuncture was perceived as far less effective for postoperative nausea/vomiting and prostatitis symptoms (8.3% and 8.7%, respectively). Of the total study respondents, 34.4% reported that they would try acupuncture only if recommended by clinical practice guidelines, and 35.6% agreed that acupuncture is safe. The path analysis showed that attitudes toward acupuncture were significantly influenced by the participants' health literacy, number of information sources, and previous acupuncture experience. However, it was also found that experience with acupuncture was not directly associated with health literacy. Although the Japanese population with higher health literacy is more likely to perceive acupuncture positively, they do not necessarily have sufficient relevant knowledge of the clinical evidence. Therefore, their decision to receive acupuncture may be more dependent on personal narratives rather than clinical evidence. Thus, future challenges lie in individual education of the population on how to choose a reliable health information source, and organizational efforts to provide more reliable health information.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
There is no standard clinically adaptable criterion for assessing plantar sensation for pre- and post-intervention comparisons. Studies using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments (SWMs) to investigate ...intervention effects on plantar sensation vary in procedure and do not consider measurement errors. This study aimed to develop a simple criterion using SWMs to assess plantar sensation, determine the measurement error range, and identify areas of low error. Six examiners assessed 87 healthy young adults in Experiment 1, while two examiners assessed 10 participants in Experiment 2. Filaments were graded from 1 to 20 based on increasing diameter. The smallest grade that could be perceived for three sequential stimuli was used as the criterion (smallest perceivable grade, SPG). The SPG was significantly smaller at the hallux and larger at the heel than at other sites. There were no significant differences between the SPG of the repeated tests performed by the same versus different examiners. The interquartile range of the differences was <±3 at all sites. Thus, our criteria were reliable in evaluating the effects of plantar sensation interventions, especially at the heel and the middle of the metatarsal heads and could contribute to the development of more effective treatments for plantar sensations.
Abstract
Background
Although mental health disorders of health care workers in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been focused, little is known about the psychological impact on ...nurses and the influence on their behavior and awareness, such as professionalism and views on life and death, in Japan where there are fewer cases of infection and deaths than in other countries. Moreover, the influence of the pandemic on nursing students is still unclear.
Methods
An online questionnaire survey was conducted among nurses and nursing students. Feelings during the state of emergency (at the peak of the pandemic) in Japan, changes in behavior and awareness after the rise of COVID-19, and the associated factors influencing these changes were analyzed, comparing nurses with nursing students.
Results
Significantly increased scores of anxiety/fear (
p
< .005) and voluntary restraint (
p
< .005) and significantly decreased score of motivation (
p
< .005) were observed during the state of emergency in both nurses and students. Scores of experience of discrimination (
p
< .005) and consideration of premature retirement (
p
< .01) were significantly increased in nurses. Moreover, preventive behavior (
p
< .005), lifestyle (
p
< .005), anxiety about nursing (
p
< .005) and views on life and death (
p
< .005) significantly changed after the rise of COVID-19 in both nurses and students. Only nurses reported significant damage to their professionalism (
p
< .01). Anxiety/fear and/or voluntary restraint and/or decreased motivation during the state of emergency were major factors associated with these changes. Also, the type of hospital, experience of care of infected patients and sex affected some of the changes. Voluntary restraint (
p
= .008), increased preventive behavior (
p
= .021) and decreased motivation (
p
= .005) were more marked in nurses than in students, while change in views on life and death was greater in students than in nurses (
p
= .002).
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a psychological impact on nurses and nursing students, associated with changes in behavior and awareness even in Japan. Of note, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected nurses’ professionalism and views on life and death. This study demonstrates the importance of having a coping strategy for anxiety and damaged professionalism in nurses, and education on life and death in nursing students.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Introduction: In the twenty-first century, the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games are held by the same organising committee, and both events are covered simultaneously by the media. Under these ...conditions, it can be observed that the preparations for the Paralympics are delayed in comparison to those for the Olympics. Furthermore, the medal count of the Paralympic games is much lower than that of the Olympic games. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to illustrate medal standings of the Olympics and the Paralympics and to analyze socio-economic indicators to clarify the characteristics of each participating country.Methods: The subjects of this study were 47 countries which have received the medals from the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games. The data was collected from both events since the 2000 summer games and the 2002 winter games. In the analysis, we use some socio-economic indicators such as GDP, GDP per capita, population, political system, health and welfare system, military situation (peace and order situation), national curriculum, etc.Results and Conclusions: Here, we show a part of the results for the last two games. At the London Games, the number of medals in the Olympic Games was 962, and that of the Paralympic Games was 1,522. The ratio of the medals between the two games was 0.63 (Olympic per Paralympics) and the correlation coefficient was 0.669 (p<0.01) in countries which got medals from both events. Furthermore, at the Rio de Janeiro Games, the number of medals in the Olympic Games was 974, and in the Paralympic Games it was 1,597. The ratio of the medals of both games was 0.60 (Olympic per Paralympics), and the correlation coefficient was 0.552 (p<0.01). Therefore, a correlation is assumed between the Olympics and the Paralympics. At the same time, in many countries, the medal ratio shows a value smaller than 1 and the number of medals of the Paralympic Games is larger than that of the Olympic Games. However, in the case of Japan, the medal ratio at the London Games was 2.375. This was the highest among the OECD member countries. These show that the Japanese situation regarding sport is extremely biased toward the Olympic Games. At the London Games, it can be assumed that the medal ratio of each country has a roughly normal distribution. But the value of the ratio of Japan can be rejected by the Smirnov-Grubbs’ test. On the other hand, at the Rio Games, the medal ratio of Japan improved to 1.70; still, the bias towards the Olympic Games has remained. These facts clearly show the attitude toward the Paralympic Games in Japan.
Pain management is critical for patients after surgery, but current pain management methods are not always adequate. Massage therapy may be a therapeutic complementary therapy for pain. Many ...researchers have investigated the effects of massage therapy on post-operative pain, but there have been no systematic reviews and meta-analysis of its efficacy for post-operative patients. Our objective was to assess the effects of massage therapy on pain management among post-operative patients by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. The databases searched included MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library's CENTRAL. To assess the effects of massage therapy on post-operative pain and anxiety, we performed a meta-analysis and calculated standardized mean difference with 95% CIs (Confidential Intervals) as a summary effect. Ten randomized controlled trials were selected (total sample size = 1,157). Meta-analysis was conducted using subgroup analysis. The effect of single dosage massage therapy on post-operative pain showed significant improvement (-0.49; 95% confidence intervals -0.64, -0.34; p < .00001) and low heterogeneity (p = .39, I
= 4%), sternal incisions showed significant improvement in pain (-0.68; -0.91, -0.46; p< .00001) and low heterogeneity (p = .76, I
= 0%). The anxiety subgroups showed substantial heterogeneity. The findings of this study revealed that massage therapy may alleviate post-operative pain, although there are limits on generalization of these findings due to low methodological quality in the reviewed studies.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The purpose of this research is to develop an objective perimetry using saccadic eye movement (saccade) as an index. In this study, we have collected basic data on the possibility of using saccade as ...an index for visual field measurement, and developed a prototype of objective perimetry system combining VSG and EyetrackerToolbox. Three experiments were conducted in this research. In Experiment 1, we tested whether or not saccade occurs when the target appears in peripheral visual field. In Experiment 2, after the target disappeared, it examined whether or not the line of vision moves to the place where it has the target. In Experiment 3, we tested the perimeter that developed on the basis of the result of Experiment 1 and 2. Finally, objective measurement of visual field is possible with the device and the procedure that we developed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The purpose of this research is to make adjustments to the objective automatic perimetry method using saccadic eye movement, so that it can be applied to clinical situations. In this study, we have ...conducted four experiments using several variables and collected basic data necessary for applying the new perimetry method in clinical situations. As a result, the following four findings were obtained from experiments: (1) in some people, it might be difficult for saccadic eye movement to occur when the target duration is short; but (2) it is possible that saccadic eye movement will immediately occur towards the target position with the use of reinforcement; (3) it is possible that the use of cartoon figure as a fixation point in the perimetry would presumably allow field of vision measurement; and (4) it is possible to assess the field of vision without the use of a fixation point. The improved objective automatic perimetry system now has the potential for wider clinical application.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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